Should I hire an architect for this?

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We moved recently and want to alter the downstairs a bit. We have an idea of the layout we want and it involves removal of one structural wall, installation of double doors between two rooms in a non-structural wall, removal of utility room (presumed non structural walls) to make the kitchen bigger and refitting of the kitchen to a new layout. Possibly also making the WC bigger to incorporate washing machine and dryer.

Because there is quite a bit of work affecting a few rooms I'm not sure whether we should go with an architect to draw up proper plans - largely so we can communicate better with builders and get more accurate quotes, or whether to just hire a structural engineer for beam calculations and describe everything else to the builder ourselves?

Structural engineer would be better

It doesn’t sound like you need an architect tbh but it’s true that having a full detailed spec is really helpful to get accurate quotes.

Plans are somewhat helpful for this but what you really need is a long detailed list of what you expect done (eg do you want tiles in the WC/utility, if so floor and walls or just floor, shd they assume small tiles or large when quoting (affects tiling cost), how many plug sockets will you want, etc). The more detailed the better as then the quotes will be like for like and less chance of nasty extra cost surprises later.

You can use a project manager or quantity surveyor to draw up a spec so might be worth investigating that route - could be less expensive than an architect. They’re often good at suggesting ways to save money. And if they are local they’ve probably worked with lots of local builders & can suggest some.

A good builder and a structural engineer.

Run it past Building Control.

Architectural drawings by a surveyor or technician could be useful to the engineer. Look up CDM regulations too.

Architect here and I’d say no you don’t need one

but don’t communicate to the builder what you want just verbally
Thats opening yourself up to extras based on a vague spec

You can do the drawings yourself just with tracing over a plan
and write up a spec on what you want
eg for a bathroom
tiles up to 1.2m high with tiles only provided by client
Plaster skim coat all new plasterboard and 2 x coats paint …put down type or say supplied by you etc
etc etc
Say what you will pay for separately. Everything else they supply and include in their quote

Make sure the builders have to apply for and get building regs approval etc

Pms and QSs charge more than Architects
This isn’t their area in terms of drawing up or designing and are best suited to working within their defined role which for both is larger projects